Phoenix drive-by shooting suspect denied bail

PHOENIX — A 22-year-old man accused of killing two teenagers and wounding
four other people in a drive-by shooting outside a late-night birthday party in
northwest Phoenix has been denied bail.

Carlos Rodriguez-Espinoza made his initial court appearance Tuesday after his
arrest in the shooting deaths of 18-year-old Jason Jonathan Acosta-Ramos and
16-year-old Elliseo O. Cantu.

A court order said Rodriguez-Espinoza can’t be released from jail because a
state law automatically denies bail for immigrants who are both living in the
U.S. without legal permission and are charged with serious felonies.

Authorities said Rodriguez-Espinoza is an immigrant who is living in the country
without legal permission, though his country of origin was unavailable.